I Shall Be Released

So a lot has been on my mind lately. I thought this experience would change me somehow. I was looking for change. But, I was never really sure about what kind of change. And in the end, I don't think I've changed at all. I'm still the same me. I still act the same way I always did.

I've met a lot of new people. Made some friends. But, people don't always understand me. Even my friends back home. Sometimes I just have to go crazy. It's just pure entertainment for myself. If I'm not getting entertained by the people I'm around, I'll probably go crazy. Usually back at home I'm always entertained by at least one of my friends. We have a pretty crazy group. Our gatherings are just good vibes all around.

I have changed though. It is all on the inside. I shall take part of Florence with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life. Just the little details of it's inner beauty. The cobblestones in the thin windy streets. The gelaterias everywhere you look. The espresso bars. The guy at the deli who will always put on a smile when you want him to make a sandwich. The almost getting hit by a vespa daily.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow........This makes me homesick.... Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Every year on Thanksgiving Day, I have a tradition with my cousins. We've been doing it for the past 7 years. I never get to see my cousins that much. We're too busy. Or they're just a bit older. David is 4 years older. And Albert is 13 years older? They're brothers. Back when I was 13, David would pick me up from my house and we would go meet up with his older brother at Albert's place. Then we would all hop in Albert's Trooper with the dancing bears sticker on the back window with his girlfriend Katie (they're married now), and we would head down to the synagogue. Now I just drive to Albert and Katie's place and meet up with all of them in the morning.

Every year, my Synagogue hosts this event called Meals on Wheels. We would arrive there and sign in. There would be hundreds of people from the synagogue. A lot of familiar faces. Rabbi G and his band are just tearing it up on guitar playing classic hits on the stage for the good atmosphere. There would be plenty of bagels and cream cheese for people to munch on before we all get started. This was like the pregaming while we wait for everyone to arrive. There would be coffee too. Of course, we wouldn't get the coffee because we would stop at Starbucks before arriving to the synagogue. Katie has an addictions for Starbucks. She'll have it multiple times a day. Can you imagine how much money that costs after a year? Wow Katie.

Then It all begins. The synagogue cooks hundreds of meals for unfotunate families. Everything was in order. People would be assigned different tasks. Bagging, Tagging, Sending it to the butcherman in the store (haha, Phish- Reba), There would be people serving the food while others would be in line holding their trays out to get the food packed up. Then after everything was bagged, there would be delivery time. We would have addresses that would be assigned to our car. Sometimes there would be a couple extra bags at the synagogue. One year, we took the extra bags for our car and drove under the bridge in uptown on hennepin avenue. We drove up to the homless people standing outside in the cold weather holding their signs. We stopped at the curb. I hopped out of the car and brought them those extra bags. I'll never forget that moment of joy in their faces. But the families that were signed up in the program weren't homeless. They were in shitty situations as well. One time I knocked on a door with Katie in this shacky old house in Northern Minneapolis. We were like, "Umm.... we're here from meals on wheels! We have your meals!" There wasn't even an adult present. It was like 11 eight year old asian kids just hanging out in the house! That was a sight for sure.
In the process of this day, I would always get closer with my cousins. I looked up to them. They're tight older dudes. They got me into good music. They should be proud of themselves for doing a good job partly raising me. In 9th grade they got me into Bob Marley. In 10th grade it was Galactic and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. In 11th grade it was String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic. This would always be during the car ride when delivering. My music knowledge just kept building up. When we were done delivering, we would all part ways and go home to get ready to meet up later that evening for dinner at their parents' place (My Aunt and Uncles). I would arrive home at my Parents' house with new music to listen to from Albert. And chill out for a few hours before treating myself with a delicious meal for a good days work of good deeds. In recent years, I was getting more into certain jazz artists. My uncle has a Jazz collection of over 2000 cd's! He hooked me up a couple years ago with some Miles Davis and Poncho Sanchez. Then after the meal, once I finally had a cell phone, I would call up some of my good friends, part ways with my family, and go meet up with everyone with Pat. I treat thanksgiving like Christians treat Christmas. I just get a joyous feeling. Everyone is really happy after their meals. And just happy to see each other and hang out in the same room with friends that are usually out of town.

I've been doing more traveling. Not this past week, but the weekend before, I went to the little town of Malcesine on Lake Garda. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Unfortunately, we were there during the off season. The whole city was pretty much closed. I wanted to hike on top of the mountain, but we didn't really have the time. We were gonna go ride some ATV's on the top. I'll have to go back there someday when the town is hopping with outdoor activities.

Last weekend, I was in Rome. I'm so glad I finally saw the beautiful city. It was unbelievable! I got to do everything on my itinerary too. I didn't think I would be able to. The Colloseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, Castel di Sant Angelo, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and plenty more. I couldn't believe St. Peters Basilica. On the inside, almost everything is made in marble! It was the most beautiful church I have ever seen.

I went with 2 girls. They only wanted to stay for 1 night. I didn't think 1 night in Rome would be enough. So I spent an extra night on my own. It was really calming to just walk around Rome by myself. I snapped a bunch of pics. I ended up going to a Jazz Club. It was really cool inside. This dude was just tearing it up on the sax. They even played some of my requests. Watermelon Man and So What. I just kept ordering rounds and rounds of Bombay Tonics. I think that just might be my drink. It is a really good drink.

I haven't been myself lately. Perhaps I'm homesick. It's a weird feeling. I don't know what it is. But it is definitely hurting me on the social scale. It's like feeling depressed but not knowing why? Crazy huh. I might be catching a cold too. That could be it as well. Whenever I get sick, I'm never in a good mood. I just haven't really been talking to anyone for the past 3 days. My dad is supposed to go under the needle today. It's a really big surgery. They're like replacing his hip with a metal object. He'll be sitting in the hospital for like 3 days. He's really worried and nervous. I know everything will be fine. But, I still wish I could be there to support him. He sounded really sad last time I talked to him on Sunday. Maybe I'll figure myself out when I get back on this thing next time.

Happy Thanksgiving!